33 Slow Cooker Soups and Stews for Winter Recipes

Once again, we owe a debt of gratitude to our slow cookers for effortlessly delivering warm meals all winter long

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33 Slow-Cooker Soups and Stews for Winter

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There is just nothing like the simple comfort that a warm bowl of steaming soup or hearty stew can provide. Especially in winter, when the temperature drops and the air turns icy, stepping through the doorway to the delightful smells emitting from a simmering Crock-Pot is truly one of life’s simplest pleasures.

Although the process of making a soup — the chopping, sautéing, and simmering to slowly and thoughtfully build and layer flavors — can be therapeutic, the ease and efficiency of using a slow cooker for the task is pure magic. Using a slow cooker to make a soup or stew will unchain you from watching the stove as your favorite soup comes together to make one hot cold-weather meal that is bursting with flavor.

Because, for some of us, the best kind of comfort food is the kind that cooks itself. Keep your slow cooker working around the clock with these 33 delicious slow cooker soups and stews perfect for winter.

African Sweet Potato Stew

Time Inc. Books

Here’s a hearty vegetarian stew that is packed full of flavor and freezes beautifully if you happen to have any leftovers!

Carrot, Pumpkin and Ginger Soup

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This might not technically be a slow cooker recipe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use a slow cooker to make this tasty soup. Simply follow the directions with your slow cooker on high until you deglaze with the vermouth, then turn it to low for 4 to 6 hours and blend once everything is cooked and smelling divine.

Cheesy Potato Soup

Chicken Cheese Tortellini Soup

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Everything except the cheesy tortellini is added to the Crock-Pot to be simmered on high for four to six hours. Then, 10 minutes before mealtime, toss in the tortellini with generous shavings of quality Parmesan.

Instant Pot Beef Stew

Dreamstime

This isn’t specifically a slow cooker recipe, but if you have a multi-cooker, you can choose to make this instantly or to cook it low and slow. For slow cooker timing, simply set it on low and cook for 7 to 8 hours.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

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Butternut Squash soup is a guaranteed winner in everybody’s household. This recipe has a hint of ginger which gives it a nice kick. To convert this recipe to a slow cooker, first sweat the onions, then combine the rest of the ingredients and cook on high for 4 hours before blending into a delicious, silky smooth soup.

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

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Split pea soup is the perfect budget-friendly soup to melt your winter blues away! This recipe is simple and delicious. If you don't have an immersion blender... get one! Just kidding, feel free to use a regular blender, it works just as well!

Lemon Chicken and Orzo Soup

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This healthy, flavorful soup is loaded with tons of fresh, nutritious ingredients like spinach, carrots, celery and onion. The flavors deepen exponentially while the soup simmers in a slow cooker all day.

"Osso Buco" Stew

Melissa Joulwan

Osso Buco is traditionally made with veal shanks, white wine, vegetables, herbs, and a little tomato, but this version uses cubes of stew meat instead of the shanks to accommodate the slow cooker. Don’t skip the lemon zest and parsley as garnish, though, because the flavors are key to unlocking the full potential of the dish.

Sans Tortilla Soup

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This tortilla soup is made without tortilla strips (thus the “sans”) and is perfect for all those who love the flavor of chicken tortilla soup but can’t stand soggy tortilla chips. It is still packed with spicy kicks of chili powder, green chiles, smoky cumin, slow-cooked chicken, and hearty diced tomatoes.

Shanghai-Style Beef Borscht

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This borscht will bring a wonderful smell to your house as it slowly cooks. Sliced cabbage is stirred in toward the end of cooking and basil leaves are added for garnish. Serve it with your favorite bread or simply enjoy it by itself.

Sopa de Ajo

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This chicken soup is something serious: Aside from the fact that it's perfumed with more than 40 cloves of garlic, pinches of saffron, cumin, cayenne, and paprika, it is topped with a poached egg, which, when pierced, infuses the soup with its rich flavor.

Sweet and Spicy Chili

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This chili is incredibly easy to make and full of sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy flavor. Just brown some ground beef and chop a few vegetables before simmering the chili in your slow cooker. There’s really nothing better on a cold night than a big bowl of chili,… except maybe a big bowl of chili that requires virtually no effort to cook!

Vegetarian Chili

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This chili is vegan — although it does taste divine when topped with shredded cheese and sour cream. This stew is hearty and delicious and will definitely chase away any winter chills. It also freezes incredibly well, so why not make a big batch and store it in your freezer for a great one-pan recipe you can just freeze, heat and eat.